Apple Huckleberry Pie

My husband always likes a Huckleberry Pie for his Birthday. He has never been a big cake fan, unlike me ;)! So every summer we pick Huckleberries and freeze them, just so I can make him his Birthday pie in December! Here is one recipe that is "hands on" with a mixture of sweet, tart and juicy! No fail pie crust (This is the best pie crust I have ever made from scratch, I usually cheat and just buy it)

2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
1 cup butter flavored shortening
Mix together with hands until well mixed, then add;
1/3 ice water, dip your hands in flour continually while mixing it into a balls stage. Divide into 2 balls and make pie.

Filling;
1/4 cup tapioca
1 Tblsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
shake of nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups of peeled and sliced apples
1/2 to 1 cup of Huckleberries (can use blueberries)
1 cup sugar
Stir and let sit 15 mins. Then add to to a bottom pie crust, and top with a crust. Brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with a light coat of sugar. Don't forget to cut slots in the top. Bake at 350 F for 50mins to 1 hour. Sweet!!!

Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

This is a sweet fattening dish, and thus delish! (I have not liked any other pumpkin bread as much as this one since!) Eat at your own caloric intake ;0)
Pumpkin Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
Mix together;
4 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
6 eggs
1 1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 large can of pumpkin puree
3 mashed bananas
5 1/2 cups of flour
2 tsp salt
3 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 cup of chocolate chips (opt)

Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Makes 5 small loaves or 4 large loaves.

Watermelon Popsicles

Thought I better get this up before it gets much colder! These are simple! My kids made them up! Our watermelon was almost gone and just the heel remained and so the kids mushed up the watermelon in the rind and poured it into Popsicle molds. They were so yummy and refreshing and a little went a long way!

Wheat Muffins

These muffins are easy, delicioius, lowfat, and super versatile.

Ingredients:

2c flour

3tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 c sugar

1c milk

1/4c oil (you can replace this with plain yogurt)

1/4c applesauce

1 egg

Mix wet ingredients. Add dry ingredients. Blend. Bake in muffin tins at 350* for 20-25 min.

Mix ins:

1 can pumpkin & chocolate chips

1 can pumpkin & cinnamon/pie spices

blueberries

mixed berries

3 mashed bananas & chocolate chips

grated zucchini

grated carrots

crushed pineapple & coconut

pecans & craisins

oatmeal, raisin & cinnamon

Let me know what other combos you come up with.

Better Banana Nut Bread

Better Banana Nut Bread (Adapted from Peggy Palmer, my mom)

2/3 cup shortening, 1 cup sugar-Cream together well
4 eggs -Beat in eggs

3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup soy flour
1 TBL baking soda -Stir together in separate bowl
2 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp sea salt -Add alternately to creamed mixture with bananas

4 mashed bananas(2 cups), 1 cup chopped nuts- Fold in nuts

Bake in 3 small, greased loaf pans. Bake 350 F 45-50mins. Cool 10 mins, Remove from pans. Cool thoroughly, wrap and store.

Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake

I was really busy one week and had to cook something to bring to an event and this is what I made, turned out moist and tasty!

Preheat oven to 325

Ingredients;

1 lemon cake mix

1/2 cup oil

1 pkg light cream cheese

1 small pkg of vanilla pudding

3 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla, blend well for two mins then stir in 2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries. I used both.

Pour into a lightly greased Bundt pan and bake for 40 to 1 hour +, until toothpick or butterknife comes out clean. (I think it took mine to almost an hour and 1/2 to cook, but I have a deep bundt pan and used more frozen blueberries, that were not thawed)

Green Dinner (mostly;o)!

Dessert was a fun green jello. I split a large box of lime jello and made the first 1/2 and mixed it with 1/2 cup plain yogurt. Then after it sat in the fridge (45 mins), I made the rest of the jello and let it set in the fridge. Then I made Dream Whip and after it was whipped I added a small vanilla pudding and green coloring. Then I topped it with sliced kiwis!

Dinner was "Green Spinach" with a side of lemon, baked fries with seasoned salt on them (put it on before you bake). Then flounder (yes, this is actually a fish) lightly fried in olive oil for 2-3 mins and seasoned while cooking, with oregano (green), garlic powder and onion powder and a little sea salt. Got good revues from the munchkins!

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (I used more)
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/3-1/2 c. sugar (I used 1/3, thought it was enough)
3/4 c. oats
2 Tbsp. oil
1/4 c. raisins
1 egg
1/4 nuts or seeds
1/4 tsp. salt

Sift the salt, cinnamon, baking soda into the flour and oats. In another bowl, beat the oil and sugar, then add the applesauce,egg and vanilla and beat well. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and beat on medium speed until a semi stiff dough forms. It will be slightly sticky. Stir in raisins and nuts or seeds and mix well. Drop by teaspoon and flatten on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen, depending on the size.

Xylitol- Sugar Substitute

So after trying a couple natural sweeteners, I finally found one that I love and am excited about! I had been using Stevia (which comes from a sweet leaf), but it always left a bitter taste.
The rumor is that Aspartame (a chemical sweetener, made cheap) was denied by the FDA several times, until someone high up pulled some strings. There are a lot more details in that story, but basically, be aware of the nasty Aspartame and unfortunately it is put into every gum that is over the counter. (Please do your research on this chemical sugar substitute, bad effects!!).
Anyway, Xylitol is found in fibers of many fruits and vegies. It does not impact insulin levels, so it is safer for Diabetics. It does not affect yeast overgrowth (Candida). It promotes good dental care, is safe for pregnant and nursing mothers. And the list goes on and on. I found 1lb of Xylitol for $10 at a health food store. And have since bought some for less on Internet, including gum, mints and some candies. (for a near future holiday;). We are also trying to steer away from any food with dyes, many current studies have shown bad side effects from these and Red 40 is one of them that is used in a lot of things! I am creating my own flavored oatmeal (Yes they are full of dyes too!) recipe in my mind and working out the kinks, then I will purchase the ingredients and let you know my end result in the next couple months.

My current favorite recipes with Xylitol are;
-Mixed in my favorite warm herbal tea
-Warm up some cooked Quinoa grain, add a little creamer, vanilla and Xylitol to taste
-Plain yogurt with fresh berries and xylitol (I have yet to find some of my favorite yogurts without dye in them) So I will stick with plain and flavour myself (less sugar:)
-Add into Whipped Cream instead of sugar

This works great to curb my sugar cravings and a better alternative and I don't give myself a guilt trip. You use the same amount you would that it calls for in recipes. I have always added less sugar anyway and will do the same with the Xylitol.

Granola Cereal

Before it is toasted

Done!

This is a fast and easy recipe that has been in my family for years. (My mom would make it) It is fun to make in the winter, because of the toasting in the oven.

5 cups Oats

1 cup Coconut (I went out on a limb and actually graded fresh coconut, yum, but a lot of work!)

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup honey

2 oz Flaked Almonds

1/3 cup flax seed (opt)

Mix together in a large metal bowl. Toast at 375 for 1/2 hour to 1 hour (depends on how crunchy you like yours). Stirring every 5 mins. Last 10 mins of baking add 1 1/2 cups of raisins that have been soaked in boiling water for 5 mins. Cool and store in an airtight container for a couple weeks at least. I ran out of almonds and added some chopped pecans. You can alternate and add your own things. This is so yummy on plain yogurt, with milk or in handfulls!

I was wondering what happened to the other cooks around here? I miss reading other recipes:) Did I scare some of you away by posting on here too much;)? I have got lots more to post lately, but will try to stradle them a little.

New Uses for Cake Mixes

Ok, so these aren't the healthiest recipes, but they are delicious and oh-so fun to make.

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler
Ingredients
1 can peaches, undrained
2-3 fresh peaches
1c frozen blackberries, thawed w/juice
1 box french vanilla cake mix
1/2c butter

Directions
Slice peaches and layer with berries in a 9x13 pan. Cover with dry cake mix (straight from the box). Pat down tightly. Cut butter into pads and place all over the top.
Bake at 375* for 45 min, until bubbly and lightly browned.

*You could use all fresh fruit or all canned. If using all fresh, you made need to add a little liquid.
*My husband loves the topping, so we used 1.5 bags of cake mix and 1.5 sticks of butter.

Mini-Microwaved Cakes
Ingredients
3T dry cake mix, straight from box
4tsp water

Directions
Mix mix and water in a small tupperware (or other microwave-safe dish). Microwave for 30-40 seconds.
Enjoy an absolutely delicious, fluffy, fun-size cake.

*Top with frosting, fruit, or anything else that sounds good.
*I'm going to try this with brownie mix next time; I'll let you know how it goes.

Sweet Potato Casserole

I don't know how healthy this actually is, but for a dessert it has to be better than all those Death by Chocolate kind of recipes that seem to be so popular (at least in my house). This is from an old ward cook-book that my mom has had forever, and this recipe is one of the reasons I still have it hanging around.

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes (3 1/2 cups if you prefer yams)
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten (let them sit out for about 2 hours before you start- they tend to beat better- this goes for all recipes- not just this one.)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter (I usually prefer really soft butter rather than melted- I think you get a better consistency in the end that way)
.
Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans
PREPARATION:
Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, until hot and crispy brown on top.

You can also serve this over a shortbread crust and serve it like a pie, but it doesn't get as firm.